If you’ve put in the time, patience and effort to change something about yourself, never let someone who hasn’t been around to witness that change define you by something you’ve said or done in the past. There are people who will try to shackle you by your past actions and cause you self-doubt. What they don’t realize is those shackles are brittle and shatter with one simple question: “That was then, who am I now?” You’ll usually get a few blinks and a perplexed look that says, “I don’t know…I haven’t been paying attention lately because I’m too focused on the past.” Eliminate these short-sighted, ignorant and un-empathetic “Shacklers” from your life.

The Shackler

There was a man named Now who once did something in the pastThat made a man named Cling so angry that his rage did lastOver several years and when the two met up once moreCling reminded Now of all that he had done before

He was oblivious to how much he himself had changedOver all the years since both of them had been estrangedCling was not the same person but he did fail to seeThat years could change someone else too, this Cling did not foresee

He met Now with an old frustration and he did remindOf what Now had done in the past, how he had been unkindHe tried to shackle Now with actions that were now years oldHe tried to define Now by those actions that were so cold

But unlike most who bow their heads in shame and say they’re sorryNow refused to play along and succumb to Cling’s quarry“That was then” Now did reply, “and I flat-out refuseTo be defined by outdated opinions, thoughts and views”

Now told Cling that if he chose to live in times gone byThat they were done speaking and Cling could count one less allyBecause to shackle someone with the past shows lack of sightOf all the ways they’ve changed if you just cling to that old fight

You can’t teach an old dog knew tricks, but with effort, focus, perseverance and patience, a free-thinking, free-willed human being can change whatever they so desire. It’s time we stopped comparing ourselves to creatures that don’t and never will have our potential…

Too Old To Change

A cop out that I hear often is “Sorry, I’m too old”People say they can’t change because of their rigid moldToo much time has passed and now they’ll do what they have doneThey’ll think they way they’ve always thought and change is what they shun

They make excuses that the passage of time does absolveBecause enough years have elapsed they don’t have to evolve“Bullshit” is my blunt response to those who think they’re throughTo their mentality and all the laziness they spew

For it’s not age but laziness that causes one to sayThat they’re too old to modify simply ‘cause of some grayFacade, a ruse, a guise, a show that I refuse to hearWhen I hear the “Too old” excuse, I do make it quite clear

You’re never too old to improve, to learn, to grow, to tryYou do not get a free pass simply ‘cause soon you will dieThe battle starts the day you’re born and ends with your demiseAnd who knows, maybe it continues when the soul does rise

No exceptions, no excuses, and no sympathyThis Warrior is not concerned with how old you may beNo longer will I listen to those “Much too old to quit”Or “much too old to deal with it without throwing a fit”

“Much too old to change my way of thinking of that group”“I cannot change my pre-conceptions ‘cause my back does stoop”Ridiculous is what it is, and elderly should knowBetter than that, wisdom is what those years should bestow

Selflessness and understanding, empathy and hopeNot stubbornness and ignorance and refusal to copeShame on each and every grey-haired lazy person whoThinks when greys come in that they no longer must pursue

Pushing selves to limits of their capabilitiesExpecting more from themselves instead of pursuing easeSaying “Never enough” even though they’re old and tiredNo cop outs and leaving younger Warriors inspired

A little history lesson about your humble scribeJust in case there are some curious within this tribeI’ve had the chance to do a number of exciting thingsIn TV, radio, and film and with some folks that sing

I have created artwork and I’ve written a few booksAnd none of it was thanks to my “keen wit” or my “good looks”Not one opportunity was handed off to meNothing once was served on platter or did come easy

Everything that I have done was not because someoneSaid “I have faith in you,” no sir, those kudos I’ve had noneNo one ever looked me in the eye and said with truth:“I believe in you” not as an older man or youth

Every single thing that I’ve accomplished was becauseI did believe in myself, what I would be, what I wasI did believe in myself even when others would scoffI did believe in myself when others would say “back off”

I did believe when they said “Quit” or “what a waste of time”I did believe when they warned that I wouldn’t make a dimeI did believe when they insulted and they all poked funAnd looking back, I realize that I’m the only one

That ever needed faith in me ‘cause waiting for their praiseIs just a futile effort that will only waste your daysSo when you do set out to do that thing you’d love to doDon’t you dare look elsewhere for their faith to carry you

Either it does not exist or will not be sufficientYou must believe in yourself if you hope to be efficientYou must say “I believe in me” and not wait for their sealOnly when you believe in yourself will dreams be real

The biggest prank the Ego plays on unsuspecting mindsIs taking others’ intentions and pulling down the blindsSomething said or done by someone else gets misconstruedThe Ego’s own motives behind those words or actions brood

It whispers, “What if I did that? Here would be why I wouldMy motives would selfish, not for any kind of good”And so the genuine selfless actions of others areCorrupted by the suspicious Ego which wants to spar

A sad, sad joke that’s played on many who just can’t believeThat there are some people out there who don’t steal and deceiveBecause that would be their motive for giving with no thoughtOf what they will get in return ‘cause what they want is squat

What if something does go wrong? What if it falls apart?What if everyone does laugh and thinks I’m not too smart?What if they think I’m a fool and think it’s a big joke?What if I get nervous and start shaking and I choke?

What if the plan goes awry, what if something gets broken?What if people aren’t happy and angry words are spoken?What if folks are disappointed, saddened or upset?What if all these things occur that haven’t happened yet?

What if you stopped worrying about what could go wrong?What if you remembered that you’re focused, wise and strong?What if you stayed present instead of living ahead?You may just find your life will have not as much fear and dread